Container handling device with plural container magazines for feeding containers to the handling devices in filling machines



Oct. 13, 1953 MAGAZINES FOR FEEDING CONTAINERS TO THE HANDLING DEVICES IN FILLING MACHINES Filed June 28, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. fizezzez' Oct. 13, 1953 J. RIEMER 2,655,301

CONTAINER HANDLING DEVICE WITH PLURAL. CONTAINER MAGAZINES FOR FEEDING CONTAINERS TO THE HANDLING DEVICES IN FILLING MACHINES Filed June 28, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 '11 a J l 10 6 13 r l 5 12 I /77 I 11' 1/ P I Halli 1 a2 i I I 12! I E II I, 26 I I f I a 125 s w i O 1? 152+ a I I 127 m I 27 a 207 905 INVENTOR,

Oct. 13, 1953 J RlEMER 2,655,301

CONTAINER HANDLING DEVICE WITH PLURAL CONTAINER MAGAZINES FOR FEEDING CONTAINERS TO THE HANDLING DEVICES IN FILLING MACHINES Filed June 28, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 1.1: 'LZZTIIIIL J INVENTOR.

Oct. 13, 1953 J. RIEMER 2,655,301

CONTAINER HANDLING DEVICE WITH PLURAL CONTAINER MAGAZINES FOR FEEDING CONTAINERS TO THE HANDLING DEVICES IN FILLING MACHINES Filed June 28, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

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Oct. 13, 1953 J. RIEMER CONTAINER HANDLING DEVICE WITH PLURAL CONTAINER MAGAZINES FOR FEEDING CONTAINERS TO THE HANDLING DEVICES IN FILLING MACHINES 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 28, 1946 INVENTOR.

Le2zze2" cfofizz r lllllllllllll ll 1- ii I l i- 0 I l. I I l l l I I I l I l l ll hL Oct. 13, 1953 J. RIEMER 2,655,301

CONTAINER HANDLING DEVICE wITH PLURAL CONTAINER MAGAZINES FOR FEEDING CONTAINERS TO THE HANDLING DEVICES IN FILLING MACHINES Filed June 28, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 FILLED 8A6 MOVED FILLED 6A6 Aawsneo 4M0 ant/MEGED -5- f6 RAISED r0 MA- LEVEL J. RIEMER Oct. 13, 1953 I 2,655,301 CONTAINER HANDLING DEVICE WITH PLURAL CONTAINER MAGAZINES FOR FEEDING CONTAINERS TO THE HANDLING DEVICES IN FILLING MACHINES 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 28, 1946 INVENTOK. $5172 9 28? $32 hawk Q N Oct. 13, 1953 J ER 2,655,301

CONTAINER HANDLING DEVICE WITH PLURAL CONTAINER MAGAZINES FOR FEEDING CONTAINERS TO THE HANDLING DEVICES IN FILLING MACHINES 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 28, 1946 g IN V EN TOR.

Oct. 13, 1953 J. RIEMER 2,655,301

CONTAINER HANDLING DEVICE WITH PLURAL CONTAINER MAGAZINES FOR FEEDING CONTAINERS TO THE HANDLING DEVICES IN FILLING MACHINES Filed June 28, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 I I j M m- 9 1761 s fi9d O FK m 174! 51-5 ii-*Qiibi 'ii' ./77

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.53? 21901- $296 2193a [j 1 156% :5 ii F13 l 4/6 IF: {y

(JIB INVENTOR it I M/Mt WM (I056; izezzer Patented Oct. 13, 1953 CONTAINER HANDLING DEVICE WITH PLURAL CONTAINER MAGAZINES FOR FEEDING CONTAINERS TO THE HAN- DLING DEVICES IN FILLING MA- CHINES John Riemer, Green Bay, Wis., assignor to Kraft Foods Company, a corporation of Delaware Application June 28, 1946, Serial No. 680,309

10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in a bag filling machine and more particularly to a machine for filling powdered or granular, or like material into paper or like bags or containers.

The main object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character indicated, which will operate at a relatively high rate of speed and which, notwithstanding its high speed of operation, will operate to fill the bags or containers with an accurately measured quantity of material.

Other objects are to provide improved apparatus of the character mentioned in which the measured quantity of material to be fed to the bags or containers may be readily adjusted, and in which such adjustment may be made while the apparatus is in operation; to provide-improved means for delivering empty bags or containers to the filling mechanism; to provide means for automatically servicing the bag or container supply means while the machine remains in operation; to provide apparatus of the character indicated which is of relatively simple construction considering the operations performed; and to provide means for controlling the dusting of the powdered material being handled.

In general it is the object of the invention to provide an improved bag or container filling machine of the character indicated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings (9 sheets) wherein there is illustrated a bag filling machine embodying a selected form of the invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a top view;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the axis of the machine on the plane represented by the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2a is a perspective of a typical bag which maybe filled by the machine illustrated;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 but showing the upper portion only of the machine, the figure being on a somewhat larger scale than Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan section approximately on the plane represented by the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, cer- Fig. 5 isa plan section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is .a plan illustrating the arrangement of certain cams which appear in Section in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a development of the cam structure shown in plan inFig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 1, but on a somewhat larger scale;

Figs. 11 and 12 are a side elevation and an end elevation, respectively, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 11, but showing certain parts in a changed position.

The machine shown in the drawings is an eight station machine, that is to say, it embodies eight filling units. The eight units are built into a cage or drum-like structure which rotates on a vertical axis, and each of the eight units is equipped to position an empty bag or container in filling position, to fill the .bagor container and to discharge the bag or container to a receiving conveyor. The eight units are of substantially identical construction .50 that in the following specification the details of a single unit will be referred to.

The machine, as best shown in Fig. 2, comprises a base embodying a top casting I and four supporting legs, such as represented at 2. The central portion of the top casting I is equipped with a depending, boss 3 into which there is fitted the lower end of a tubular post 4. The post 4 has its lower end portion reduced in diameter so as to form a shoulder 5 which engages the top of the boss 3 to limit insertion of the post into the boss. The reduced lower end portion of the post is made a drive or press fit in the boss 3 so that the post becomes, in effect, rigid with the base member I. If desired, additional means such as keys, set screws, and the like may be employed for further securing the post in fixed relation to the base member I.

On the post, immediately above the base casting I, there is rotatably mounted the bottom plate 6 of a cage or drum which is rotatable about the post 4. The plate 6 is supported on a casting 1 which has an apertured hub 8 rotatably mounted on an appropriately finished journal portion of the post 4, a suitable bearing bushing 9 being provided as shown. The plate 6 may be bolted as indicated at H] to the member '5 around its periphery, or otherwise secured thereto, and a depending flange ll is secured to the periphery of the plate 6 to close up the space between said plate and the base casting l. The flange ll serves to prevent the'entrance of foreign matter into the space between the plate 6 and base member I.

The plate 6 and the member 1 to which it is attached are supported by means of a plurality of circumferentially arranged roller bearings 12 which are suitably mounted on the base memher i and arranged to engage a circular boss i3 which projects from the bottom. face of the member i.

A plurality of rods or posts I4 spaced cir cumferentially around the plate 6 a short distance inwardly from the periphery thereof, have their lower ends bolted to the plate as ,mdicated, and their upper ends similarly secured tov a top plate which constitutes the top part of the drum or cage previously mentioned.

The top plate l5 has its central portion secured to a hub member [5 which, with the plate 15, is journalled on the post 4 through the agency of bushings, such as indicated at ii. To provide support for the central portion of the top plate E5, the post 4 is shouldered as indicated at it to receive a flanged collar is which is preferably keyed as indicated at 2:53 to the post so as to be held against rotation. A set screw 2! may be provided in the collar it for locking the key in place.

On top of the flanged collar l9 there is provided a valve member 22 which has a hub portion fitting around the post 4 and a flange portion resting on the flange of the collar IS. The

valve member 22 is normally stationary, being held in fixed position relative to the member ill by means of a. clamping screw 23 which passes through an arcuate slot in the flange of the member i9, and screws into a tapped hole in the iiange of the valve member 22. mits a desirable amount of rotary adjustment ,of the member 22 relative to the post 4 and collar i9, the purpose of which will hereinafter be explained.

The member on which the central portion of the plate 15 is mounted has a hub portion 24 which is suitably recessed at its lower end to receive a ball or other suitable anti-friction bearing 25 through which the member I6 and plate i5 are supported on the upper end of-the hub portion of the valve member 22.

It will be seen'that the bottom plate 6, the posts It, and the top plate [5 form a rigid drum or cage structure which is rotatable about the. post 4, and which has its central top portion supported on the post '4 and its lower peripheral portion rotatably supported on the base plate I.

The rotatable cage structure is driven by means of an electric motor 25 which is suitably mounted on the bottom of the base member I and connected by means of a suitable belt or chain drive represented at 2'! to a shaft 28 suitably journalled in bearings such as indicated at 29 suspended from the base member i (See Figs. 2, 4 and 5.) An adiustably mounted idler 3c is provided for engaging the driving member 21 to maintain it at the desired tautness.

The horizontal shaft 2% drives a vertically disposed shaft 3], which is suitably iournalled in a bearing boss provided in the base member I, through the agency of bevel gears 32 and 33 respectively keyed on the shafts 28 and 3|. The shaft 3| has a spur gear 3 1 secured to its upper end in meshing relationship to a ring gear 35 which is bolted to the bottom of the bottom supporting member I. (See Figs. 2 and 4.) If desired, a shaft 36 may be suitably journalled in the supporting base of the apparatus and equipped with a bevel gear 3'1 in mesh with the bevel gear 33 to permit manualjogging of the This arrangement perrotary cage structure for facilitating adjustment, cleaning, and other operations. If desired, the shaft 28 may have incorporated in it a safety clutch 38 which is adapted to become disengaged in the event that the resistance-of the rotary cage to turning movement becomes too g eat. Also, an adjusting coupling 39 may be incorporated in the shaft 28 to facilitate adjustment of the relationship of the gear 32 to the gear 33.

Each bag filling unit of mechanism carried by the rotary cagestructure comprises a bag magazine. 410 Such magazine is supported by suitable side bars M Mv which project from brackets Ma, Ma secured to the bottom of the top plate l5. A pair of arcuate metal strap members 42 (see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 10) form the bottom of the magazine and pairs of rods, such as indicated at 43,

form the opposite sides of the bag magazine. The bottom forming strap members 42 extend downwardly and inwardly from the outer ends of the bracket arms H and they are of such widths that substantial portions of their widths project toward each other and beyond the respective inner faces of said bracket arms, as best shown in Fig.- 13:.

The side rods 43 depend from the bracket arms 41 and at one side of the magazine the said rods :33 have upper end portions 53a extended upwardl beyond the top plane of the arms 4| to cooperate. with similar upwardly projecting end portions 42a of the bottom forming straps 42 to facilitate positioning of bags for insertion fiatwise into the magazine. The rod portions 43a extend upwardly a greater extent than do the bottom strap portions 42a. 'The inner or delivery end of the magazine is disposed in a vertical plane and embodies side frames or plates 44 carried by the delivery ends of the side rods A3. The delivery end portion of the magazine may be supported by means of hangers or straps 65 which depend from the brackets e la.

The side plates 34 of the magazine embody adjustable screws 64c (see Figs. 11 and 12) which have inner ends adapted to project inwardly over narrow marginal side portions of the adjacent bag so as to prevent the same from falling out of the delivery end of the magazine. The, bags are withdrawn from the delivery end of the magazine by vacuum gripping means which will presently be described, the bags being flexed and distorted slightly incident to their being pulled past such inwardly extending screw ends or tips. The screws 4401. may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly as required to obtain the desired holding efiect.

At the upper portion of the magazine, there is provided an inside Wall or bag guide plate 42b (Fig. 12) of arcuate form and substantially concentrically related to the outer or bottom wall strap members 42. The member 4222 may be supported by attachment at its opposite edges to the respectively adjacent arms or bars 4 l.

Bags .in collapsed flat condition are delivered in horizontal position to the receiving end of the magazine with bottom ends out and their unsealed ends in (that is, towards the center of the machine) and, as the bags are withdrawn one by one from the delivery end of the magazine, the topmost blanks gradually move to a vertical position at the delivery end of the magazine. This form of magazine is advantageous in that the bags are prevented from becoming matted together but are instead more or less separated from each other so that withdrawal of the bags one by one from the delivery end of the magazine l l l with a vertical end portion 49 which is suitably:

recessed and slidably mounted on a vertical guide rod or bar 53. The bar 50 has its upper and lower ends bolted or otherwise fixedly secured. to the upper rotating hub member I6 and to a lower hub member 5| which is rotatably mounted on the post l. An anti-friction bushing 52 is provided in the bearing hub of said lower member 5i. The guide bars 50 together with the parts vertically slidably mounted thereon rotate in unison with the cage structure comprising the plates 5 and i5 and the interconnecting rod posts Radial movement of the vacuum head 46 is effected by means of a horizontal cam embodying inner and outer tracks 53 and 54 which embrace a roller 55 carried by a stud 55 which depends from the radially slidable bar 41. The arm 48 in which the bar 41 is slidable has its lower side formed by a plate 51 which is screwed or otherwise attached to the arm 48 and said plate is slotted as indicated at 58 to permit the stud 56- to pass therethrough and to move radially under the control of the cam tracks 53 and 54.

The cam tracks 53 and 54 are stationary, the same being carried by a hollow cylinder or drumlike structure 59. The hollow cylinder 59 is fixedly supported by means of a flange or disc 65 which is rigidly mounted on the stationary post :3 by means of a hub 5| formed integrally with said disc. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a key 62 is provided for locking the hub 6| to the post 4, a set screw being provided as indicated to further lock the parts in fixed position. Vertical support is provided by a flange 63 which, in this instance, is welded in fixed position on the post 4.

The cam tracks 53 and 54 are shown in plan view 'in Fig. 7 from which it Will be seen that the cam tracks are so formed as to produce in and out movement of the vacuum head 46 according to a predetermined plan of operation. For the purpose of explanation, we may assume a starting point of operation as represented by the radial line 6 Rotation of the structure being clockwise when viewed from above, the initial part of the rotary movement may be considered an idle period during which the vacuum head remains at a fixed distance from the center of rotation. The second step in the operation is an outward movement of the vacuum head to cause its outer end to engage the bag in the delivery end of the bag magazine d0, and the third step is one in which the vacuum head remains stationary while vacuum is being applied to cause the vacuum head to grab the bag in the delivery end of the magazine.

Then follows an operation during which the cams 53 and 54 act to move the vacuum head with a bag attached thereto inwardly to align it with a filling spout which will presently be described. Such inward movement. of the bag is followed by a period of rest during which material is delivered into the bag through the spout just mentioned. After the bag is'filled, the vacuum head together with the bag still attached thereto is moved outwardly to a position in which the filled bag is released and discharged to a conveyor which will also presently be described. Upon discharge of the filled bag to such a conveyor, the vacuum head has returned to its starting position ready for another cycle of operation.

During the in and out movement of the vacuum head, it is also subjected to up and down movement which is effected by a rising and falling cam provided by the top edge of the drum 59. The cam edge acts against a roller 66 carried by the lower end portion of the vertical arm used above in reference to the horizontal motion of the gripper, occurs immediately following the discharge of a filled bag and is again referred to in the following explanation of the vertical movements of the vacuum head.

For an initial portion of the movement, the cam 65 has a rest period during which th vacuum head remains vertically stationary. Then follows a period during which the cam effects upward movement of the vacuum head to align it horizontally'with the discharge end of its bag magazine 4!]. Then follows another vertical movement rest period during which the vacuum head is moved outwardly by the cam tracks 53 and 56 into engagement with a bag in its magazine and returned inwardly to align the grabbed bag with the filling spout. After the bag is in vertical alignment with the filling spout, the cam 65 rises again to elevate the bag relative to the spout so as to, in efiect, insert the spout into the bag, this position being illustrated at the right hand side of Fig. 2. During the bag filling period, the vacuum head remains vertically stationary and after the filling operation is completed, the cam traclijturns downwardly to lower the filled bag and to discharge it on the conveyor 58. To insure the lowering movement of the vacuum head with its attached filled bag, the descending portion 55a of the cam 65 is equipped with an overlying track 65b which is spaced from the track portion 550:, a distance which is equal to the diameter of the roller 55. The cam track portion 65b is thus positively operativ to effect lowering ofthe vacuum head with its attached filled bag.

Release of the filled bag from the vacuum head is effected by cutting off and relieving the vacuum as will presently be explained.

The vacuum heads 46 are provided with a pair of openings 69 which are interconnected by means of-a bore 10 (Fig. 3)., The openings 58 are on the outer or front face of the head which engagesthe bag which is to be withdrawn fro-m the magazine. The openings and bore lo are connected to a source of vacuum through a nip=- ple H threaded into the inner face or the back of the vacuum head'and a flexible hose 12, one end of which is connected to said nipple H and 1 the other end as shown at 13 to one side of a filter device 14 (Fig. 2). A pipe or suitable conduit 15 connects the other side of the filter M to the lower portion of a pneumatically actuated Q1991, will I? portion ofs hei ocls ne. dental? wi l? r tatin Sn ll; 1850f; hevalvestri iurei i whi fl' hel merits; l Brand 22; pliev ollslyareierredtq constitute be, establ sh b tw en the on ui 1 nd he space mdicated at .idwhich isprovidedbetween the; inside 7 of v the tubularpost 4; and a normally stationary shaftv 80 which extends upwardly, th' iol hsaid post, Thespace 19 is connected to; avacuuin pump or other; suitable source ofvacuum bymeans of a. conduit S lwvhichis threaded into the boss 3 of the supporting frame member L Suitableholes indicated at 82 bored through theboss; 3; and the lower end; portion of the post i -serve. to establish communication between said conduit 8} and said space 19,

It willbe-seen that when the air is exhausted from the conduits 8!, the space-l9, and the con duitsfl], and 12, asuction will be established at; thev u m h nsenin 69 whereby t vac um. hea w l. e pe a iv ra s amt: withdrawit from the magazine when the, vacuum head is moved readily inWard-ly.

The vacuum connection to the vacuumhead lips controlled-by the valve comprising the parts 13; and 22 incident to the rotation of the part 18;, around the stationary part 23. The valve part 13 is caused to rotate in unison with the rotating cagestructure by means of one or more pinssuch as represented at 83 which have their upper'and lower ends entering suitable sockets provided in the upper hub member 16 and in the valve member 18, at least one of said ends beingslidablydisposed in its socket so as to permit relative vertical movementv between the parts connected by such pins. A coil spring 84 around each pin 83 and compressed between the parts [6; and 18; serves to hold the valve member. 18 inengagement withtheflange portion 22a of the valve member 22 The stationary valve member 22 has the outer surface of its upstanding collar portion pro vided with a groove which extends partway around its circumference and terminates in radial openings. 86, 85, which communicate with a groove Bl in its (inner surface. The post 4 has. oneor more openings such as represented at 8 3; establishing communication between said. groove 8'! and the space 19.

' The outer valve member 18 is provided with a series of suitably tapped openings 89 (Fig. 9) whichrespectively receive the connections of the conduits 1-1 from the locking devices l6 as alr ady s a e The groove is of such length that vacuum will be constantly maintained in the, vacuum heads, 476' for. the entire period during which the bag is required to be held by each vacuum head.

For releasing the vacuum in a gripper when a .fi11ed b3 l g carried thereby is to be discharged, the, valve, body 22 is provided with. a vent duct 2.312 E er 3 m. 91 a the F 993 m s ab i he co m nicat b t n e cuum, line o ach cr s e d the e m nhe e- The filters [4, one of which is incorporated in thevacuum line to each vacuum head, is for the purpose of preventing the passage of any powdered material or the like, which the machine may be packaging through the vacuum line and into the vacum pump. Details of the f lter are not a part of the, present invention and hence are not illustrated or described. The filter ma e o p hic s i a e. r P 7 venting he nassageg em imateri ein s-neck ases g ntothe va i pini i i lsmcdevice i s in ved wh ne P1 11 pose of preventing the dumping of agenta i the event that. there is no bag presented tore ceivethe ruaterial, The locking device comprises a pin which is vertically slidably mounted in, the hpusing of thedevice. The lower endof theopin 9.0 is, enlarged to provide a, piston 9i, whichisvertically slidable.inacylinder 92 which forms theibodyof the locking device. The pi's-V 9l in its no-rmaLlowered position partially coverstheinnerend ofa bore92a through the cylinder wall and a nippleextending from the ,cylinder for receiving the end portion or the rlegrible conduit 11. A boss 93 projecting upwardly fromthebottom of the. chamber in the looking device servesto, properly position the, piston 91 with, reference to said bore92,

' nd r. maiop r tins conditions i. wh n. a bag is engaged by the vacuum head, the amount Qt, a r qhfw ll flew rou h he st m. w l readily be handled by theuncovered portion of thebore 92. However, inthe event that asupply of bags is missing or for some other reason thevacuum head 46 fail to engage a bag, a muchlarger volume of air will be caused to iiow through the vacuum headand through the vari ous vacuum conduits, the result. being that the normally uncovered portion of the bore 91 will; not permit the, flow of air at a suificiently high rate so that air pressure will be developed in the cylinder portion below the piston head Bl; thereby raising the piston headand uncovering i morevof the bore 92. to permit the required air flow. Incident to the upward displacement of the piston 9i, itspinflfl is projected upwardly above. the, top surface of the top member :5. The upwardly projecting portion of the pin 80 is em-t. ployed as will hereinafter appear, for prevent ing the dumping of a charge of material when there isno bag present to receive it.

M t a o; b p ckaged i e iver d min a hopper 54 which is rotatable in unison withthe cage structure aboutthe hollow post 4, Asshown n he. d n s th a r op e 94 a a. central upwardly projecting hub 95 suitably b ushed-as indicated at 96, rotatably mounted on thepost 4. The pan is rotated in unison with the cage structure through the agency of one or more pins, such as indicated at 91, the ends of which are slidably mounted in suitable oc ets. tta hed. in r. t m d a lrwith. the part and; the top plate 15 of the cage. The, pan orv hopper 94 is supported by means of a, collar. 98 which is, vertically slidable about the hollow post 4; and pinned to. the shaft 89 by means of a cross pin 59. An anti-friction Washer oribearing I05 may beinterposed between the collar 98 and the adjacentsurface of the hub 94 so as to permit free rotation of the hopper re1a-. ire oise d. c l ar 8.. The a t is n mall held stationarybutitis capableof being adjusted vertically as-will presentlvbeexplained; 4 N ar r n e ho r p v ded. with a series of dispensing openings lfl'l, there being, one, such opening for each bag handling unit of mechanism. in this instance, "as already explained, there are eight filling stations spaced equally distant about the periphery of the rotatns tr tu e.

Nozzles [02 extend downwardly from each of the dispensing openings I0 the inner diameterv of the nozzle sjbei ng preferably slightly'expanded downwardly as best shown in Fig. 3. The outer 9 surface of each nozzle is preferably cylindrical and has slidably fitted on it a sleeve I03.

In alignment with each nozzle, the to plate I5 is provided with an opening I04 and filling spouts I05 extend downwardly from the bottom of the plate I5 in registry with each of its openings I04.

Valve mechanism is provided for' controllin the passage of material from the nozzle I02 into the spout I05 and said valve mechanism cornprises a member I06 which is pivotally mounted at its inner end as indicated at I'I on a suitable stud carried by the top plate I5. The outer end of the valve member I06 is provided with an enlarged and elongated eye I08 into which the nozzle I02 and its sleeve I03 extend as shown. The bottom of the eye I00 is partially closed by a plate I09 secured to the member I06. Said plate I00 has an opening I I0 at one end of the eye so that when the member I06 is rocked on its pivot I01 to bring the opening IIO into registry with the nozzle and spout, material may flow downwardly into and through the spout. However, when the member I06 is rocked to its other position, the solid area of the plate I00 will serve to close the lower end of the nozzle to thereby prevent the passage of material downwardly therefrom (see Figs. 3 and 6) I The pivoted valve arm I06 has rigidly secured to it an inner arm extension III, the arm extension III being also pivoted on the stud I01 and being secured to the member I by suitable bolts as represented at I I2. The inner extremity of the arm III carries a roller II3 which engages the periphery of a normally stationary cam II4 which is keyed in fixed position on a portion of the stationary tubular post 4. The nut II5 threadedly engaging a portionof said tubular post is provided for holding the cam H4 in en gagement with a supporting shoulder I I 6 on said post 4.

The valve arm I 06 is normally urged to its nozzle closing position and the cam follower is normally held in engagement with the cam II I by means of a tension spring III which is stretched between a pin H8 depending from the arm I06 and a pin II9 depending from the bottom of the plate I5. The pin II8 passes through an arcuate slot I20 in the plate I5 so that the pin is free to move about the axis of the pivot stud I07 with the valve member I06. The spring II! is preferably enclosed in a suitable casing or jacket represented. at I2I, the same being suitably secured to the bottom of the plate I5.

It will be seen that as an incident to the rotation of the plate I5 with its valve members I06 (one for each of the nozzles), the cam follower II3 of each valve arm I06 will travel around the cam H4 and that once in each rotation of the structure, the cam follower will drop into a recessed portion II4a of the cam periphery to thereby permit the spring II'I to move its valve arm I06 to a position in which the valve plate opening IIO registers with the outlet end of the nozzle I02.

Each valve arm I06 is provided with an aperture I22 which, in the normally closed position of the valve arm, is aligned with the pin 90 of the above described pneumatic locking device. In the event that there is no bag on the vacuum head 46 so that sufficient air is drawn through the vacuum passages and through the locking device I6, the pin 00 will be caused to move upi and 3 10 wardly into the opening I22 ofrthe overlying valve arm I06. When the valve arm I06 is thus locked against rocking movement about its pivot I01, the spring H1 is, of course, unable to rock the valve arm so that the cam follower II3 of that particular valve arm will not enter the recessed portion II4a of the cam H0. Hence, there will be no discharging of material through a spout I05 which does not have under it a bag for receiving such material.

The hopper 04 is supported through the antifriction washer I00 on the collar 98 which is in turn supported by the pin 99 on the shaft 80. Vertical adjustment of the hopper 94 relative to the top plate I5 of the rotary cage structure is effected by adjusting the shaft up or down. Such adjustment of the hopper relative to the plate i5 serves to vary the length of the chamber in the nozzle I02. The sleeve I03 normally rests at its lower end on the valve plate I09 and the nozzle element I02 slidesup or down in said sleeve when the hopper 94 is adjusted up'or down. Such adjustment, by varying the length of the nozzle chamber serves to effect adjustment of the volume of material which will be delivered through the spout I05 into an underlying bag. The shaft 80 may be adjusted up or down by means of a hand wheel, such as represented at I26 (Fig.5), which is carried by the outer end of a shaft I20 which is suitably journalled in a supporting member I25 carried by the lower frame structure of the machine. The lower end ofthe shaft I26 is connected by means of a bevel gear universal joint I26'to a spindle element I2'I. The spindle element I2'I has keyed or pinned to it a collar or thimble I28, the upper portion of which is provided with a screw threaded hole I29 which threadedly receives a screw threaded lower end portion I36 of the said shaft 80. The weight of the pan'94 and the shaft 80 is transmitted through the threaded end portion I30 to the thimble I28 and the latter is provided with an upper end flange I3I for cooperating with a suitable anti-friction bearing I32 to transmit the load'to the lower end portion of a housing element I33, which is suitably secured to the bottom of the hub portion .3 of the lower frame element I. By turning the hand wheel I23 and shaft I24, the shaft 80 will be adjusted up or down, rotation on the shaft being prevented by the passage of the pin 99 through slots in the stationary post 4 as clearly shown in Figs. 2

The shaft 80 may beguided in suitable bushings'indicated'atle l, I35 and I36. The bushings I34 and I35 serve also to provide end seals for the space I0 between the shaft 00 and the'post 4 which constitutes a part of the vacuum line or passageway as already explained Additional end seals maybe provided as indicated at I0: at

the lowerend of the shaft, if desired.

In the hopper 04 there are provided suitable material distributors and scrapers. They may be of various formsand in this instance there are shown a set of three such units respectively indicated at I30, I39 and I40. Material may be delivered to practically any portion of the hoppen The scraper I40 has its lower edge normally spaced slightly above the bottom of the hopper as represented in Figs. 2 and 3 and it serves to level off the material in a peripheral zone overlying the entrances to the nozzles I02. The scraper I38 has its bottom edge lightly engaging the bottom of the hopper and it serves to move aeoasor and tends to rock the dog in aclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 11 to cause the free end of its feeler arm I80 to enter the bag magazine when the supply of bags therein drops below the level of the feeler arm. When the bag level drops to the extent indicated, the free end of the arm I99 enters the bag magazine as represented in Fig. 13, the dog I11 rocking in such a direction as to disengage its locking end I8I from the shoulder I16 whereupon the arm HI and shaft I12 is released for rotary movement which will be effected by spring means.

The spring means for rotating the shaft I12 and rocking the arms or fingers I19 and HI comprises a torsion spring I82 which is coiled around a sleeve I83 (see Fig. 3) freely rotatable around the shaft I12. One end I84 of the spring is anchored as shown at I95 (see Figs. 3 and 12) to the supporting bracket I13, and the other end of the spring is anchored as indicated at I86 in one end of an arm hub I31 which is journalled on the shaft I12.

When the fingers I19 and HI are in the down position as illustrated in Fig. 11, the spring I82 is wound up or under tension so that it tends to rock the shaft I12 to elevate the fingers I19 and IN to the position illustrated in Fig. 13. Such spring effected movement of the shaft and arms is, of course, normally prevented by the locking action of the dog I11 on the portion I15 of the arm I1I as already explained.

The force of the spring is transmitted through said arm hub I81 to the finger I19 and shaft I12 by means of a pin I89 which is slidably mounted in a suitable bore in said arm hub I91 for movement in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of the hub. A suitable coil spring I99 is placed under compression between the inner end of the pin I99 and a set screw or plug I9I which closes one end of the pin receiving bore in said hub.

The free or outer end of the pin I99 is adapted to engage in a detent I92 formed in a hardened. metal plate I93 secured to the adjacent face of the finger arm I19. Said hardened plate I93 is rotatably adjustable about the shaft I12 and it is adapted to be locked in fixed relation to the hub portion of the finger I19 by means of a locking screw I94 which is threaded into the finger I10 and passes through an arcuate slot in a portion of plate I93 as indicated in Fig. 11. By rotatably adjusting the plate about the shaft I12, the location of the detent I92 may be adjusted to the extent permitted by the arcuate slot through which the screw I94 passes. I

It is desirable that the shaft I 12 and the parts carried thereby be freely rotatable in the bearing brackets I13 and I14. To prevent resistance to such free rotation incident to the endwise thrust produced by the spring I82, a suitable anti-friction thrust bearing I940 is disposed between the bracket I13 and the adjacent end of the spring I82 and a similar anti-friction thrust bearin I95 is disposed between the bracket I14 anda collar I96 fixed to the shaft I12.

, The normal or inactive position of the arms I10 and HI is illustrated in Fig. 10 and 11. As there shown the arms are disposed in a more or less horizontal position overlying the top of the stack of bags in the magazine. The locking dog I11 is in looking position with its end I8I in engagement with the locking shoulder I16, this position being maintained as an incident to the presence of bags in the magazine which prevent. the feeler arm I99 from moving into the magazine.

As each magazine travels under the table I59, a roller I91, carried by an arm I88 which projects from the hub I91, engages a cam I98 which depends from the bottom of the table I59. Said cam I98 extends for substantially the entire length of said table and has a downwardly inclined lower edge portion I93a at its receiving end and a substantially horizontal bottom edge portion I981) constituting the remainder of the operating edge of, the cam. The cam bar I99 is mounted for limited longitudinal adjustment by means of screws such as indicated at I99 which pass throu h suitably elongated slots 299 in the cam bar and are threaded into a fixed re-enforcing bar 29! which forms a part of the table structure. It will be evident that by adjusting the cam bar I99 lengthwise, the timing of the operations effected by the operating edge of the cam can be suitably adjusted.

When the bag magazine contains sufficient supply of bags to prevent the locking dog feeler I 8% from entering the bag magazine, the finger arms I13 and I'll and the shaft I12 will be held against rotation. Nevertheless, when the roller I91 engages the cam edge H3901, it will be rocked in a clockwise direction from a normal position vertically above the shaft I12 to a position approximately in horizontal alignment with said shaft I12 as illustrated in Fig. 11. Such movement of the roller I91 and its arm I98 will result in a winding of the spring I92 and will be permitted without effecting corresponding movement of the finger I19 and parts rigid therewith because the spring pressed pin I89 will be cammed or forced out of the detent I92 and caused. to ride on the surface of the wearplate I93. As soon as the roller I91 leaves the end of the cam I98, the spring I92 will restore the arm I99 and roller I91 to the said normal position vertically above the shaft I12. The said normal position appears in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

When the supply of bags in the magazine is reduced to such an extent that the feeler arm I99 may enter the magazine, the locking dog I11 will rock, because of its weight and arrangement, in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 11 to disengage the locking end I9I thereof from the locking shoulder I19 of the arm I1I. Then when the roller I91 next engages the cam I99, the arms I10 and I II and the shaft I12 will be rocked in a clockwise direction incident to the cam effected rocking of the lever I99 and its hub I91 through the agency of said spring pressed pin I39 and the detent I 92. The finger arms I19 and HI will thereby be caused to project upwardly as shown in Fig. 13.

The cam I99 is so disposed as to cause the arms I19 and I1! to be rocked to their upwardly extending position before they reach the stack of bags I51 on the table. The arms then project upwardly through the slots I99 and come into engagement with the back face of the stack of bags I91 whereby the bags are advanced along the table plate I59.

The guide plate I69 prevents the bags from being displaced outwardly incident to the centrifugal force developed during the travel of the bags, and they follow the downwardly inclined portion I590 of the table plate to the horizontal portion I592) thereof and into engagement with the upper end portions 49a of the magazine side rods 43.

The purpose of the inclined portion of the table assass n I 9c and of the lowered delivery portion [$927 is to permit the upwardly projecting rod por tions 43:: to travel under the stack of bags on the table portion I59a so as to be positioned in advance of the same when the stack is wiped from the lowered delivery end of the table into the receiving end of the magazine. The said portions 43c are, therefore, operative to prevent the bags from being thrown across the top o'f'the magazine to an extent which might interfere with their proper dropping into the magazine as the bags leave the end of the table portion [5%.

as soon as the roller I 91 leaves the cam I98, the spring I 82 will rock the finger arms I10 and I'll in a counterclockwise direction from the position illustrated in Fig; 13 to the position illustrated in Fig. 11 thereby causing the arms to follow the downward movementof the stack of bags delivered to the magazine and to more or less tamp the same downwardly therein to insure their proper positioning on top of the bags previously remaining in the magazine. To insure movement of the finger arms I10 and Ill to their inoperative horizontal position, the plate I 83 on the arm Hill is provided with a shoulder 202 which will be engaged by the pin I89. when it is seated in the detent I92 with the arm I19: in upwardly extending position. The pin I38 is thereby prevented from: riding out of the detent I92 when it is called upon to. effect rocking movement of the arms I10. and I'll and the shaft. I12 as explained. When the arms Ill! and III are rocked to their'inactivepositions, thelocking dog will re-engage the shoulder I'IE to again lock the arms in said positions.

The normal tendency of the spring Iii-2 to of feet clockwise rocking of the arms :10 and Ill and the shaft I72 will not interfere with. the disengagement of the locking dog I Il. from the shoulder I76 when the feeler arm R30 is permitted to enter the magazine because: each time the roller [97 engages the cam: I 98, the pin I89 is disengaged from the detent' or groove I92", thereby permitting the weight of the arms I? and HI to cause the same to rock slightly in a counter-clockwise direction to cheat. reduction. of the engagement pressure between the: locking shoulder Il -6. and the end [8t of thelocking dog- (ifnot actual separation thereof) so that the latteris free to rock by gravity to an inoperative position when permitted by the absence of bags in the magazine. To make this action more certain the plate I93. may: be provided with, an auxiliary detent 2.123 which will receive the, pin I 89 when the arm I88 is moved to. the. position illustrated in Fig. 13. while the. arms I'IG and I-"II remain in the position. illustrated. in. Fig- 1L Then when the roller 59? leaves the cam. I9.8-,.the initial returning movement of the arm IP88 will be transmitted to the arm. Ill} and Ii-I to there.- by effect release of: the dog II 'I2 to permit." the same to rock toan inoperative position if the; bag supply is suhiciently low in the magazine. The auxiliary detent 203 will offer only slight resistance to disengagement of the-pin I89 from said detent thereby only very slight movement of the arms H8 and HI will be effected by this means. The resistance sup-plied by the bags in the magazine to downward rocking of the arms I10 and IN is suficient to cause the pin I89 to leave said auxiliary detent 283: Clockwise rocking movement of the arms I10 and HI and the shaft I72 mayadvantageously-be' limited by engagement of the shoulder I16 of the arm I10- with the adjacent side bar 41* as shown in Fig.

, vacuum: gripper 46.

E6. 13. Rocking movement of the arms no 1 1.1. in thecounter-clockwise direction will: be limited either by engagement. of the arms. with the top of'the bag supplyin the magazine: or by engagement. of the arms with adjacent. portions of the underlying bar 4|.

The form of container or bag. which the ma.- chine is. designed to fill is; illustrated in Fig. 2a from which, it can be, seen that there are front and baclr walls 265. and 288, respectively; said walls; being suitably interconnected around. their opposite side and; bottom edges but unconnected at their upper edges; The front: wall terminates in an. upper edge indicated at and the back.

, wall. extends upwardly beyond: the edge 26?]: of

the. front wall to form, the; lip 2E8- When the bag is drawn inwardly from the: magazine into alignment with the spout M5,. the horizontal position of the bag is such that thelip portion 2-38 thereof; will engage the lower end or lip-like portion ass or the, spout. Such on gagement of the bag lip 2m. with: the spout lip; 2519: serves to initiate opening; of the bag; as an incident tocontinued-inwardly movement, of the Upward movement of. the. vacuum head; and bag which may occur intact simultaneously with inwardmovement and in, part after such inward v movement, efiectstelescoping of: the bag overthe spout and further; opening or distension ot the bag: as indicatedin Figs. 2 and, 3 of the drawings-..

When; powdered material. being filled is: delivery: into a bag, some dust may rise from the: discharged powdered material. To; prevent such: dust. from settling in the mechanism, thereis; provided. ahood 2am which surrounds; the spout just shortly above the upper edge of'the bag in its. highest position onthe spout. The hood is: connected; by means of a conduit 2 I-Irto the up per plate [5 of the rotary cage; and establishes. communication between said hood" 2-H).- and a vacuum manifold 2-.I-2: over-lying said plate. r5. The manifold H2. (see, Fig-1 G) is of arcuate-form. overlying; the peripheral portion or the. plate L5,, and it. is of such length that it, is capable ot straddling: a pair of adjacentconduitsltt.

a flexiblehose 22I 3 to a source of vacuum sothat any dust rising fromthe bag: 285 will. be; drawn. upwardly through the. hood and. conduit into the manic-old 2:I2 and thence. to a; suitable cohlecting means (notv shown);-.. Bycausing the? manifold 2-I-2 tocommunicate,withsadjacent conduits 2-H, the manifold. iscaused to; at. all-times, be in communication with atleast one. such. conduit. so that the flow of air through the manifold and to the vacuum pump will be substantially constant. This avoids an objectionable intermittent loading of the vacuum system and avoids any pulsating effect which would normally result from intermittent action. smoothness of operation is thereby attained The operation of the. described machine may be. summarized as follows:

Empty bags,. batch-fed automatically. to bag magazines 49; are withdrawn one by one from the delivery end of each magazine by a vacuum gripper 46. There are, of course, a plurality of such grippers disposed in circumferentially spaced relation around the rotary turret or cage which is' journalled on the central supporting post t, and there is a bag magazine for each of the grippers. In other words, each gripper draws a bag from its own magazine;

Air suction ineach gripper 46 is controlled by Themanifold is connected 'bysuitable means. mohas;

a rotary multiple valve structure mounted on the central post 4 and comprising the parts 19, 2'2, and 18. Connections from the valve structure to the grippers 46, comprise, for each gripper, a fiexible hose 11, a valve locking device 16,. a hose 75, a filter l4, and a hose 12.

Each vacuum gripper 4c is mounted for horizontal and vertical movement, horizontal movement being effected by the cams 53 and 54, and vertical movement by the cam 65, The cams which control the horizontal and vertical movements of the gripper are so arranged that a bag is first moved horizontally inwardly-from the delivery end of a bag magazine, the bag lip 288 being brought into engagement with the lip 28?? of spout Hi5 so as to effect opening of the bag incident to continued inward movement of the gripper and gripped wall of the bag. When the bag has been sufiiciently opened, the gripper is caused to move upwardly to telescope the bag over the lower end portion of the spout in preparation for the delivery of material through the spout into the bag.

The material to be filled is delivered to a rotating hopper 94 in which spreader plates I38, I39, and MG are arranged to effect filling of circumferentially spaced outlet nozzles I02 which constitute measuring chambers for determining the amount of material which will be delivered into the bags. There is a nozzle I02 in communication with each spout m5, and communication between the nozzles and the respective spouts is controlled by a valve plate Hi9 and a stationary cam H4.

Incident to rotation of the rotary cage structure which carries the grippers, spouts, hopper and nozzles, and nozzle valves, the stationary cam I54, acting through the arm ill and the valve member I06 which carries the valve plate [E39, controls the opening and closing of the valve. The valve member I06 is pivoted at l0! on the rotating plate l5.

The valve plate 109 is opened after a bag is in proper position on the spout, a measured quantity of material being thereby discharged into the bag. Any dust which rises from the material delivered into the bag is drawn away through the vacuum hood 2H] and stationary vacuum manifold ZIZ which is of such length that it communicates with adjacent hoods to insure a continuous air flow through the manifold.

After the bag is filled, the gripper with its filled bag is lowered and moved outwardly to dispose the filled bag over a conveyor 68 to which the bag is discharged by cutting off of the vacuum to the gripper. The vacuum is, of course, cut off by appropriate porting of the rotary valve structure comprising the parts I9, 22 and i8, and provision is made to relieve the vacuum through such valve structure. The discharge of the filled bag from the gripper 46 is preferably efiected just as the gripper reaches its lowermost point so that the downward and edgewise momentum of the bag will aid in its separation from the gripper when the vacuum is cut off.

The conveyor 68 which receives the filled bag will have associated with it, suitable side guides or supports for holding the filled bag upright and the bag will be carried by the conveyor 68 to any desired mechanism for effecting further operations on the filled bag such as, for example, shaping the filled bag, closing and sealing its open end, and inserting it into an outercontainer if desired.

After discharge of a filled bag, the vacuum gripper 46 is moved vertically upwardly into horizontal alignment with the discharge end of its bag magazine preparatory to the next cycle of operation. Then the gripper is moved horizontally outwardly to engage and withdraw the next bag and the filling operation is repeated.

It will be apparent that various changes in the details of construction may be made while retaining the principles of the described machine, wherefore the described details are intended to be a disclosure of typical rather than essential details.

I claim:

1. In a filling machine of the class described, a plurality of interconnected, travelling container handling devices movable successively through a predetermined path of travel, and a plurality of separate container magazines respectively associated in fixed relation with said handling devices andmovable in unison therewith for delivering containers respectively to said container handling devices.

2. Ina container filling machine of the class described, a plurality of portably supported con tainer'handlmg devices, means for effecting simultaneous travel of such devices through a predetermined path of travel common to all of said devices, a plurality of separate container magazines for supplying containers respectively to said handling devices, and a plurality of separate means respectively associated with said handling devices and movable in unison therewith for delivering material to containers held by the respective handling devices.

3. In a container filling machine of the class described, a plurality of portable container supply magazines, means associated with said magazines for Withdrawing containers therefrom, means for effecting unitary travel of said magazines and said container withdrawing means,

a normally stationary container support, and means for automatically delivering stacks of containers from said support to said magazines as an incident to relative movement between said magazines and support after withdrawal from the magazines of a predetermined portion of the container capacity thereof.

4. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of container magazines movable in unison, a normally stationary container support, means carried-by each of said magazines and controlled by the supply of containers therein to automatically' deliver containers from said support into the respective magazines as an incident to relative movement between said magazines and said support, said means comprises for each magazine a shaft rotatably mounted on the magazine, a-pair of finger arms fixedly mounted on said shaft in spaced relation longitudinally thereof. spring means normally urging said finger arms and shaft to rotate to position the finger arms in inoperative position overlying the receiving end of the magazine, an arm having a hub portion rotatably mounted on said shaft intermediate said spring and one of said finger arms, means yieldably interconnecting said hub and the adjacent finger arms for unitary rotary movement about the axis of said shaft, said hubbed arm having cam engaging means at its free end and the container support being provided with a cam adapted to engage said cam engaging means to effect rocking movement of said hub and said finger arms to position the latter in operative,

19 container delivering position-,- anda: locking dog pivotally mounted. onfa portion of said magazine and having at one end-a feeler arm for engag-. ing the "supply of containers insaidemagazine aridwat its other end, lockingengagement with one-pf said finger arms to hold the samein inept-.1. erative position when. said-feeler arm. is in err-:1

gagement wdth'containers in the 'r nagazine.v

5'. In container vii-lling mechanism of the class;

described, the combination of a rotary-turret pro: vided with-apluraiity of container gripping and fiilfi'ig devices; means for-rotating said turret, av separate container magazine for each of. said container gripping and filling devices, said. magazines being movable about the axis oi said turret rcsre uve grisping and filling devices and being-of arcuate fofrm and arranged to receive containers a generallyhorizontal :plane.

and conduct- "the" same *downwardlyfand inwardly.

an arcuate-path of travel to a generally vertical position, means for actuating said containergripping devices as an incidentto theretation of said turret soasto cause-the gripping devices to engagethe verticallydisposed containers the respective magazines and successivelywlthdraw' the containers inwardly of the turretfrom said respective magazines to position a the containers for-filling purposes; r

'6'; In container filling mechanismof the class described; thecombination-ofa rotary turretpro-- vided with a plurality of container gripping and filling devices, means for rotating said turret,*a separatecontainer magazine for each ofsaid containergripping and filling devices-said magazines being movable inunison with the respective gripping "devices-about the axis of said rotary turret; means for actuating said container grip ping'devicesduring'rotation of said turret to causethe' gripping devices-to successively grip the containers in the respective magazines -andto withdraw said containers therefrom and position said containers beneath the filling devices.

'7. In apparatus of the-"class described, nor-- mally travellnig-container handling and filling meansra magazine" fordelivering containers to said 'lrandling'"and filling means, said magazine benig'associated with said handling andfilling means for travellingin unison therewith and having approximately horizontal receiving and verticardi'schargeends; said magazine comprislng opposite," substantially parallel, side guides and" an'arcuatebottom intermediate said side guidesj said:- side" guides and bottom extending fromthecontainenreceiving end of the magazine to the container discharge end thereof and constituting achute for guiding containers from horizontal position to vertical position for delivery to said container handling means, and guide means spacedfrom and substantially paralleling'thereceiving end portion of said bottom and extending 'forat least a portion of the distance from-said receiving end to said discharge end toccoperate'with the receiving endporti'ons of said side guides and bottom to position. the containers in said horizontal receiving end por ti'onof the magazine, and means for automatio ally delivering a stack of horizontally disposed containersto said magazine through said horizontal receiving end thereof during the travel of said. magazine-and said container handlingand filling means.

8. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of spaced apart containermagazines movable along'apredetermined path, a normally stationarycontainer'support, means carried by each of saidmagazines which are movable. into engage.

ment with vcontainerspositioned on said supportforirnovingsaid containers into the respective magazines as an incident to relative movement between said. magazines and said support, and additional means on said magazines operable in response to achange .in the supply of containers in the magazine to effect said movement of said first mentioned means into engagement with the containers on said support.

9. In a machine of theclass described, a phi-- rality of container magazines movable along a predetermined path, a normally stationarylcontainer support, means operable to efiect delivery I of containersfrom said support into the respec:

tive magazines as an incident to relative movement between said magazines and said support, said means comprising an element rotatably mounted on each of said magazines in position for movement intoengagement with the containers on said container support, and a cam carried by said container support in position for engagement with said element on each of said magazinesto cause. saidelement to move to said'container engagingposition.

10. In acontainer filling machine of the class described, a plurality of portably supported cont-ainer handling devices, means for effecting simultaneous continuous travel of such devices:

through a predetermined" path of travel commonto all of said devices a plurality of separate container magazines for supplying containers res spectivelyto said handling devices, said maga zines being respectively associated with saidcontamer handling devices and movable in. uni-son therewith, a normally stationary support adja oentto said pathof travel for supportinga-stack oicontainers, and means automatically deliveringnstacks of containers from said support into the: respective magazines'when the'supply of containers in. the respective magazines approaches a predetermined state of depletion;

JOHN RIEMER...

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1,284,310: Gilbert Nov. 12, 1913 1,601,236. Burnham Sept. 28, 1926 1.549233" Lindgren Mar. 15, 1932 1909;050" Ferguson May 16, 1933 1,999,742 Smith Apr. 30,1935

2,051,483 Jones Aug. I8, 1936 2,1093%" Dalton Mani, 1938 2,I44j569" Frazier Jan/1'7, 1939 2,169,542 Steinkeinper Angus, 11139 2,255,084 Pfianze Sept1l9194l 2,27-5335 Achatz" Mar. 3, 1942 2,288,149 Williams June 30, 1942 2,290,103 1 Homes; a1. July 14, 1942 2,307,517" Langer'et'al Jan. 5*, 1943 2,333,571 Hohlet a1.- Nov. 2, 1943 2,350,666 1 Allen June 6, 1944 2 ,352,140 Trott June 20, 1944 2,368,624 Walton Feb, -6, 1945 2,371,748 Fedorchak r Mar. 20, 1945 231mm" Howard June 5-, 1945 2,418,263 Hurst Apr: 1,1947 

